5th4x4

Way ahead of you on that one Lalo! : P I don't care how long it's been, but there isn't a Marine on the planet who hasn't had it drilled into his very being about keeping a spotless rifle. It's like the Fire Department guys; anytime a truck leaves the firehouse, they wash it when they get back - fire or no fire. Same for Marines; the rifle goes out.... it gets cleaned when you get back - fire or no fire. I obviously can't speak for all of us, but I feel pretty confident in saying that Marines clean their weapons far far far more than they ever fire them. After all, they'd make us clean them just to keep us busy sometimes. It can become a sick joke after a while, but we just do what we do best: 1) b**** about it (Marines b**** about everything!!!) 2) clean our rifles So yeah, excellent advice Lalo... but I've cleaned my rifle a few times already : P (and it's not even complete yet!!!) Once a Marine......

I used to collect the brass from the fifty. At one point I must have had double-digit ammo boxes full of it. I ended up trading most of it for what turned out to be a pretty crappy surfboard. He was a pretty hard-core stoner Cali dude, so I had no idea what he was planning to do with all of that brass.... but there was a lot of it! I'm very McGuyver-ish, so I will definitely keep my brass and eventually get into reloading (since I assume it's well worth the effort?)

Ok, so handguards have been settled. And a rear sight is apparently(?) on the way (more on that when I can actually confirm that information). So that leaves the 2 last remaining items that are required in order to be fully functional: 1) Mag 2) Ammo Mag first: From what I have run across in a number of scattered posts throughout this forum, the mag options are more extensive than I had previously understood that they could be in this state... and that is due to "pinning"(?????). Really?? (or did I misunderstand?) Can someone please shed some light on that topic of magazines for me? Ok, now onto Ammo: When it came to ammo for the M16, I didn't get to choose it or buy it. It was either handed to me, or I pulled boxes of it directly out of an ammo can. And therein lies my experience with obtaining ammo for my rifle. (FREE AMMO!!!! Don't hate : P Although.... most of you have probably scattered far more brass than I ever have anyway, so who's hatin' who!) Anyway, that leads me to my main two questions about that. The first question is: Best to buy online.... or to buy local? The second question is: Buy what? (for what) I've read about different ammo being used by many of you (depending on purpose). So I guess what I mostly need to know is what "general purpose" ammo should I be using (for say, a local range). I do want to learn how to match the right ammo to specific needs though, so I'd be open to any information that anyone would care to impart (or link to). Btw, totally off the path here, but do they sell tracers in the civilian world? (that's just a curiosity that occurred to me when I began to think about my only previous experience with "matching" ammo to a specific need) Ok, so whatever I can learn from you guys would be most appreciated as always.

Rifle bondage

Hmmm... yeah, that's a sleek look. Hmmmm.

I did find this look intriguing the moment that I saw you post it. But I had wanted to see an image of it mounted on a finished rifle - and I think that was part of my browser crash (although not necessarly the cause). I'll re-search for an image of that now.

"Just sayin" is what I'm hoping for! I suppose it's best to talk shop in PM(?). Or here. You tell me. I just want to know the "what and why" for going with whatever choice. Bonus for me is in reciprocating favors to those who have helped me so much.

You had referenced that in a PM. I checked it out. Marked-up and dialed-up like a cockpit : P First two places I tried to check prices/availability said "out of stock". There's no greater buzz-kill. I never even think of ebay. I guess I should start doing so.

It's been awhile since I've posted anything here, and that's due to the fact that I've been so freakin busy that I haven't been able to do anything with my rifle at all :/ But busy or not, I really need to carve out a bit of time for it, so here goes. First of all, it's almost done (as in fully functional). If I had a mag and some ammo, it would be functional. What it still lacks however (aside from a mag and ammo) is handguards and sights/optics. I'll deal with the handguard part last. Right now I could really use some experienced guidance in relation to sights/optics. As many of you who have followed this build (and my arrival here on NJGF) know, my experience with this type of weapon is/was with the M16. Therefore when it came to sights, my only experience was the carry-handle rear sight and standard mil front sight. Now before we get too far, let me show you my upper (this is from the website, since my digi-cam is still taking crap pictures) BCM Standard 16" M4 Carbine Upper Receiver Group https://www.bravocom...e=BCM-URG-M4-16 I've already had OSA grind off the bayonet lug and swap out the flash suppressor with a Yankee Hill muzzle brake, but otherwise that's the upper that I'm working with. As far as configuring for sights/optics, my needs for this rifle are HD and range practice. (btw, not bench/stationary support stuff. I will hold my rifle) And if I should get lucky enough, I'd like to be able to use it for extended distances (which means as far as is available for me to shoot). Obviously that last part will be rare (or never, although I hope not), but once I have this rifle ready to go, believe me, I would love to make friends with people who own land. Lots and lots of land. Therefore I'd like to be able to test my abilities over long distances without having to own multiple sight systems (if that's even feasible, of course. Feel free to correct my ignorance as necessary). I honestly have no idea about sights or optics. I wish I did, but I don't. I've certainly done some research, but it becomes an overwhelming blur after a while. And besides, I wouldn't know overkill from useless. So picking what I actually need is proving to be a crap-shoot for me :/ Ok, as for handguards; Some of you have already mentioned items from your own stocks of parts, so now is the time that I said that I would start looking at and considering things. But obviously I want to focus on the handguards first, since the other ancillary items will likely be attached to that (or the upper). In addition, I would appreciate if anyone has any ideas/examples of handguards/rails that are sorta streamlined and not too clunky. I'd actually prefer a little bit of curve or an element of softness over simply jagged blocks. Ultimately I would like to combine both form and function, and not just function (nor just form). Therefore if anyone knows of anything along those lines, I would definitely appreciate a heads-up as to where I might obtain something like that. (btw, I spent about an hour searching handguards in google images the other night. I had opened at least 40 or so tabs of links to sift through, but one of those links locked up my browser and crashed it. UGH. Nothing but frustration and wasted time. I'm sure I dropped an f-bomb or two... or more. Definitely more) I have to say that I've really enjoyed this build so far (even though it's had it's frustrating moments) so I appreciate the help and the encouragement that you have all provided to me. And yes, I did cheat myself on the upper. Guilty as charged for buying it already assembled/configured. I know that I limited myself a bit by doing that. But the next time I build (and btw, no need to mention anything to the wife about that quite yet : P ) I'll build every inch of it.

Yes. Just checked the receipt. $28

OSA (Ottomanelli's) in Woodland Park. I was there on Wednesday and picked up a Yankee Hill. $28(?).

I have zero interest in internet piss fights.

My statements are no less fact-based or opinion-oriented than any other here. But if my suggestion to address the repercussions of this law based on the actual bill itself comes across as criticism to you, then I guess I missed the point of the OP's thread.

Both of these situations are real-life concerns, since they are extremely broad in their scope (if they are truly part of the bill, of course). The former was specifically addressed by the OP as the primary basis for this thread, and yet no one has authoritatively referenced any part of the bill that specifically addresses that concern (nor the second concern I quoted here). Therefore unless any of you can decipher the legalese of this law to conclude that the discussion of "unresolved mommy issues" or "marriage counseling" is a basis for delaying or denying gun ownership, it would appear that the scope of this bill is well beyond "life coach" counseling. So perhaps it would be most beneficial to address and discuss the actual law, and how that law impacts those of us who are unfortunate enough to be ruled by this idiot state. But getting outraged over speculation is simply outrage for the sake of being outraged (<<< and that might actually get you ensnared straight into the the Mental Health Bill that you are so enraged about in the first place) : P A very wise man once said,"Trust but verify".

If it's on the interweb... I believe it. NOT I call BS

I'm in Bergen County as well (on the north east border of Paramus) and I took the recommendation of a member here (bhunted) to check out Ottomanelli's (OSA) in Woodland Park. It's not in Bergen, but it's not a bad drive (it took me less than 30 minutes during the lunch hour) and you are even closer to there than I am. http://osarms.com/ It's part of (or at least next to) a range, so there's a nice buzz about the place. And lots of regulars, so it has a friendly vibe. The counter guys have that bartender quality of awareness about them; I was dealing with one guy, and another guy picked up on my conversation and recalled speaking to me on the phone hours earlier. It wasn't a particularly memorable phonecall, so I was impressed that he recalled everything that we had discussed. So as far as first impressions go, it was certainly a good one. (unlike Ramsey Outdoor in Ramsey, where the counter guys seem to prefer speaking only with each other, and are oblivious to - or are inconvenienced by - what is happening on the opposite side of the counter) I had specifically gone to OSA (yesterday!) for modifications (compliance) on my upper. I had left it with them overnight, so I'll be picking it up later today (they already called this morning; it's ready), so I can't (yet) speak of the quality of their work. But based on the customer base that I encountered there (including quite a few LEO types), I can't imagine that all of these customers keep returning there to have shoddy work done. I'll follow up here again after I've picked up my upper later today. But since you're based in Hackensack, I think it's definitely worth the trip just for recon purposes. Get a feel for the place. See them in action. Form your own impression of the operation there. Btw, all that said..... are you not comfortable doing the stock pinning yourself? Because the link to the thread that Displaced Texan provided you is the same thread that had convinced me to do that kind of work myself. No offense to OSA (or other gun shops) but I'd much rather work on my own rifle if it doesn't require much in the way of special equipment and technical skill/experience. As a matter of fact, my Magpul CTR is currently "out for delivery" right now (yes!!!) so that should be arriving at my house at any moment. So as soon as that arrives, I'll be getting down to business straight away. I know that I have a tendency to ramble, but I hope some of that might be helpful to you.

Yup, even the grunts are personally customizing their issued rifles before they deploy these days.

Damn! That's gun porn! Is that yours Vlad?

My original plans included an A2 stock. I wanted to build the most M16-ish looking rifle that I could, since it was what I knew and what I was (very) good at shooting. (albeit in a distant former life) But the more time I spent on these boards, the more I saw what others had done with their rifles, and my plans went right out the window. Not that I'm looking for every bell and whistle - because I'm not; I still want only what I need - but I've decided to change things up a bit. But since you've already been through this, I think it's cool that you are going with the A2. Lots of storage in those, that's for sure. And sturdy. Also heavy though (then again, unless you're going out hunting with it, you won't be humping it for miles and miles, so that won't matter much). As for local/good price... I'm a neophyte when it comes to purchasing (my rifles were "issued", not "shopped") so I can't help you with that. I've had a lot of help from my "personal shoppers" here in this thread : P btw... If I ever build another (or re-build this one), I'll definitely go all classic. But as for this one, I went will a magpul ctr (allegedly arriving in the next day or so). Very much un-classic.

It's invaluable to know that when one's flank is suddenly exposed, that cover fire can be deployed until one's head can be extacted from one's arse. Invaluable Oh wait... what? Yeah.

Laws are laws. Opinions are opinions. And comments are comments. To be anal about the first one is wise. The be anal about the other two is tedious.

I appreciate the literal and factual basis of your statement. My comments however, have been strictly analogous. The law has already been referenced here in this thread. That should be enough to settle the matter. Therefore my analogous ramblings were meant only as an attempt to use a more common sense approach for thinking about the subject. I thought that I was pretty clear on that point, but apparently not. I'll try to be more anal and less analogous in the future.

The analogy isn't meant to be an apples/apples comparison. Just a link to logical thought. And the logic in that example is based on "use" or "purpose" or "intent". But this discussion seems to be based on circular logic. When the legality of the lower is called into question, the lower suddenly becomes a paperweight. When the lower's "use" or "purpose" or "intent" is to be a part of an unregistered firearm, it can no longer be called a paperweight. And round and round it goes. So is this really all about the legality of manufacturing a lower to be used as a paperweight? Or is it about manufacturing a lower to be used as a firearm? I suppose you can always test the legality of this by taking a serialized lower and then stripping it down to the metal, and then grinding away all of it's markings. Now you have a similar paperweight. And who can say that you didn't manufacture it yourself? Ok, but now what? You have a paperweight? Personally I'd opt for something less risky to help me secure my papers to the desk And I'd be confident in the fact that I'll never have to hear a LEO order me to "step away from the snow globe sir!"

Consider: Build your own car. Not for sale or distribution, just for personal use. Don't register it. AWESOME! Then find yourself confronted by a LEO while possessing said car. And then enjoy your journey through the legal system. Btw, just make sure that you don't have any of Demitri's unregisters weapons in the trunk of your car at the time. : P

Lots has been posted here recently - much of which involves equipment available for purchase - so allow me to read everything fully, and then I'll PM about all of these items. And tomorrow I'll post pictures of my upper (and more) so that everyone can see what I'm working with.